This
guide is the first
to focus on HIV/STD
prevention in
rural communities.
The document reflects
the perspectives
of the HIV/STD
prevention specialists
represented in
the Rural HIV/STD
Prevention Work
Group as well
as other selected
rural HIV/STD
professionals.
Their experiences
infuse this guide
with ideas that
serve as a starting
point for prevention
programming at
the local level.

Leaders
in HIV/STD prevention
in rural communities
throughout the
United States were identified
and invited to
a consultation
meeting at Indiana
University, Bloomington.
This meeting of
the Work Group
was sponsored
by the Rural Center
for AIDS/STD Prevention
at Indiana University,
in collaboration
with the document
co-sponsors. At
the meeting, the
key HIV/STD leaders
who comprised
the Work Group
identified important
issues and essential
prevention strategies
unique to rural
communities. Following
the consultation
meeting, the editors
developed the
text for the guidelines,
bringing together
the perspectives
of the Work Group
members. Finally,
drafts of the
document were
sent to the Work
Group and document
co-sponsors for
their review and
input prior to
publication of
the final document.